FAITH2ACTION

Time to drill or get off the Hill!

Janet Porter is president of Faith2Action*: turning people of faith into people of action to WIN the cultural war TOGETHER for life, liberty and the family. Author of "The Criminalization of Christianity," she hosts a daily radio program from 2-3 p.m. Eastern and a daily radio commentary heard in 224 markets and at www.f2a.org.
* Title and affiliation for identification purposes only.

Gas prices, up 40 percent in the last year, have just reached record-breaking highs with unleaded regular gas at an average of $4.109 a gallon (and an average of $4.63 a gallon in Alaska and $4.51 in California), according to an AAA survey. And most of that money goes to countries that hate us.

With tens of billions of U. S. dollars funding the terrorist nations, it might be time to do something different. If you’re sick of funding both sides of the Islamo-fascist war, it’s time to drill here. Period. And the no-drill Democrats from Obama to Pelosi to Reid need to hear about it.

The American people support offshore drilling. According to Rasmussen, seven out of 10 in America now demand it.

But, there are a few who disagree:

Sen. Barack Obama says “no”;

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says “no”; and

Sen. Harry Reid says “no.”

They, apparently, would rather give billions of dollars to countries that hate us.

It’s time to fight back. I suggest that the next time you’re at the pump, whip out the cell phone and make a few phone calls. While you watch the pump numbers whirl by, call Congress (202-224-3121) and tell them: “It’s time to drill or get off the Hill.”

In fact, I’d put that number on speed dial. Tell your representative and two U.S. senators that they need to:

Drill offshore and in other areas (like Alaska) that are currently held captive by the special interest environmentalists;

Lift the moratorium on building oil refineries; and

Give tax incentives for alternative fuels.

It’s really quite simple: If they say “no,” they should go.

And this just might be the issue that boots them out of office. Sen. Obama says that the results from drilling won’t come fast enough, yet they will come a whole lot faster than his plan of doing nothing. And most experts suggest that just the news of Americans tapping into their own natural resources will signal a drop in gas prices from the terrorists who hope to convince us to remain dependent on them. Besides that, the market reacts to expectations of the future, and we would see a more rapid turn-around in prices.

America is starting to get it. They are starting to see through the left’s bait-and-switch blame game to see who is really blocking our progress and our energy independence. Maybe that’s why for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history, Congress’ approval rating is in the single digits.

Opinion polls have plummeted at about the same rate our gas prices have skyrocketed, as those who give a “good” or “excellent” rating to Congress is now at just 9 percent. The Democrats have turned your family vacation into a bicycle ride around the block – yippee.

Yesterday’s Faith2Action’s radio program featured K.T. McFarland, who was the equivalent of a three-star general in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration and an expert in national security and foreign affairs. She added her voice to those calling for independence from Middle East oil.

While we were waiting in long lines for gas in the ’70s during the Carter years, the people of Brazil were working to become energy independent. While President Clinton was vetoing Congress’ efforts to drill, they were turning their biggest crop, sugar cane, into ethanol. Their gas remains at $1 per gallon and now they are 100 percent energy self-sufficient.

McFarland reported that 80 percent of France’s electricity is nuclear generated. She added that Americans have been known for being among the most creative and innovative people on earth, and if France can do it, it seems like we ought to be able to pull it off.

Maybe Barack and the Democrats think that if we continue to spend exorbitant prices for oil, the terrorists will be nicer to us. Maybe they think it’s not fair that we’re not paying $10 or $15 a gallon like all their “progressive” friends in Europe. Maybe the want to satisfy their global warming buddies who would rather everybody stayed home. Whatever the case, they are at odds with America.

And it might be time to get rid of all the obstacles that are holding our country back. The Democrats are blocking the American people from even getting a vote on the matter. The message of this election must not go unanswered: If they say no, then they should go; if they won’t drill, get off the Hill.